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coy

12 senses · Free VividLex dictionary · Thesaurus

  1. 1. a. Quiet; still. Source: opted
  2. 2. a. Shrinking from approach or familiarity; reserved; bashful; shy; modest; -- usually applied to women, sometimes with an implication of coquetry. Source: opted
  3. 3. a. Soft; gentle; hesitating. Source: opted
  4. 4. v. t. To allure; to entice; to decoy. Source: opted
  5. 5. v. t. To caress with the hand; to stroke. Source: opted
  6. 6. v. i. To behave with reserve or coyness; to shrink from approach or familiarity. Source: opted
  7. 7. v. i. To make difficulty; to be unwilling. Source: opted
  8. 8. adj. affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way Source: wordnet
  9. 9. adj. showing marked and often playful or irritating evasiveness or reluctance to make a definite or committing statement Source: wordnet
  10. 10. adj. modestly or warily rejecting approaches or overtures Source: wordnet
  11. 11. 1. Quiet; still. [Obs.] Chaucer. 2. Shrinking from approach or familiarity; reserved; bashful; shy; modest; -- usually applied to women, sometimes with an implication of coquetry. Coy, and difficult to win. Cowper. Coy and furtive graces. W. Irving. Nor the coy maid, half willings to be pressed, Shall kiss the cup, to pass it to the rest. Goldsmith. 3. Soft; gentle; hesitating. Enforced hate, Instead of love's coy touch, shall rudely tear thee. Shak. Syn. -- Shy; shriking; reserved; modest; bashful; backward; distant. 1. To allure; to entice; to decoy. [Obs.] A wiser generation, who have the art to coy the fonder sort into their nets. Bp. Rainbow. 2. To caress with the hand; to stroke. Come sit thee down upon this flowery bed, While I thy amiable cheeks do coy. Shak. 1. To behave with reserve or coyness; to shrink from approach or familiarity. [Obs.] Thus to coy it, With one who knows you too! Rowe. 2. To make difficulty; to be unwilling. [Obs.] If he coyed To hear Cominius speak, I 'll keep at home. Shak. Source: webster
  12. 12. j:100 s. affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way s. showing marked and often playful or irritating evasiveness or reluctance to make a definite or committing statement s. modestly or warily rejecting approaches or overtures Source: ecdict

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